EXQUISITE, THEATRICAL, INIMITABLE – GUO PEI

Chinese designer, Guo Pei’s incredible designs have made history in becoming the Vancouver Art Gallery’s first exhibition dedicated to the art of fashion in the premiere of her Guo Pei: Couture Beyond collection. The exhibition features over forty stunning designs by China’s foremost couturière and was organised in collaboration with the gallery and Atlanta’s SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film.

Guo’s portfolio of magnificent designs includes the cape famously worn by Rihanna at the 2015 Met Gala – an imperial yellow garment made using fifty-five pounds of embroidered silk and a boasting a breathtaking five-meter train.

Her innovative and intricate silhouettes seamlessly combined modern design with pre-republic luxury and are full of symbolism. Guo is renowned for combining the rich aesthetic tradition of Chinese garments with contemporary designs and achieved incredible heights being the only Chinese national designer to join the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

“With works by one of the fashion world’s game-changing icons, Guo Pei: Couture Beyond marks the first time the Gallery is presenting an exhibition focused on the intersection of art and fashion as a dimension of visual culture. Guo’s pursuit of excellence is unmistakable in every stitch of her creations. Each of her designs is a masterpiece and feat of craftsmanship that will undoubtedly captivate fashion-savvy visitors and art-lovers alike in this Canadian premiere,” said Kathleen S. Bartels, director of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The exhibition, Guo Pei: Couture Beyond follows the evolution of the designer’s work over a decade and includes highlights from her early collections such as Samsara (2006), An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream (2008) and 1002 Nights (2010). Continuing with numerous detailed works from Guo’s collections designs from her Legend of theDragon (2012) collection animate motifs of the mythical dragon – a prominent figure in the Chinese zodiac.